As the Golden State Valkyries headed into the WNBA semifinals Sunday, they also celebrated an individual award. Forward Janelle Salaün was the unanimous pick as Sixth Player of the Year, the league announced.
Salaün received all 74 votes from a national media panel. To be eligible, a player had to play more games as a reserve than as a starter. Salaün came off the bench for all 40 games she appeared in this season for the Valkyries, who finished 32-12 and are the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
Salaün averaged 12.7 points per game, best among all WNBA reserves who played at least 20 games. She made 93 3-pointers and averaged 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
A 6-foot-2 forward from France, she was a starter last year and on the all-rookie team for the Valkyries in the franchise's first season in the WNBA. She adjusted to coming off the bench this season, as the Valkyries added Gabby Williams and Kiah Stokes in free agency.
Salaün, 25, averaged 11.2 points and 5.8 rebounds on the French national team last month that took the silver medal in the FIBA Women's World Cup in Germany.
